>> thank you, brian. >> the jump was originally scheduled for tomorrow but it's postponed a day due to projected high winds. before we get out of here, we want to tell you, hugo chavez announced the victory of the election.

lots of money in colorado, virginia, florida. >> in nevada, both parties pull out all the stops to woo latinos and their leaders. >> they wanted them to come out and vote. >> thousands of latinos turn 18 and become eligible to vote every month. they face a struggling economy, and broken promises and harsh immigration rhetoric. >> do you think democrats and republicans understand latinos in nevada? >> neither party understands what is needed for the hispanics. >> neither party. >> so who will win them over? latino in america: courting their vote. las vegas, nevada. one of the gambling capitals of the world. beyond the glitz and glamor in the shadow of high rollers and high stakes gambling is high stakes politics.

this is the las vegas you rarely see. nevada is home to one of the fastest growing latino populations in the country. more than a quarter of the state's population is hispanic, and in 2008, those latino voters helped to turn the historically republican state democratic, and all eyes are on the crucial swing state and its six electoral votes. >> the goal is to get as much support we can from the hispanic communities. >> hector is one of the people in charge of the latino out reach for the republican presidential nominee, mitt romney. >> it's a growing electric rut, and it's going to continue to grow in the elections to come, and so i don't think either party can take that vote for granted.

>> democrats are fighting to hold on to nevada, with heavy hitters like harry reid hoarding the latino community. nearly 300,000 nevada voters are latino. >> no more magnified anywhere else than nevada is the hispanic vote. >> but republicans want to take the state back in 7 out of the last 10 elections nevada voted republican. >> we understand to win, you have to win the hispanic vote. we have to be engaged. >> the presidential candidates come here to win the west -- >> in october of 2011, the republican presidential candidates rolled into town with their money and their message. >> herman cain, let me start with you. would you build an entire fence along the border and would you have it be electrified? >> i will build a double-walled fence. >> there's tough talk on immigration.

>> you have nerve border patrol agents to seat fence and you turn off the magnets like tuition breaks that draw people into the country illegally. >> we have a question in the office. >> in the office is a businessman, a republican voter, anxious to ask the question on the minds of many latino voters. >> we have 50 million latinos and not all are illegal. what is the message from you guys to the latino community? >> it is a tough thing to be republican and latino here? >> yes. >> how so? >> i have to all the time defend the party, so like, you know, that's not all of us. our community is not about only immigration. they want jobs. they want a better education for the kids. >> what is the message that we take to the grassroots? >> hours after the gop debate in a different session, he is still pressing party for answers? >> the democrats are kicking our behind.

>> we need you out here talking to the latinos. >> the republican here shares his satisfaction? >> the republican leadership has to send a message to our community. >> what is your frustration with the republican party? >> they don't see what hispanics are going through every day, and they don't see it as a problem. >> you don't think the republicans are fighting for your vote? >> exactly. >> but cecilia is fighting for their votes, and he wants to take the message to the latino community? >> i never see them trying to be out there and express their voices, you know. i am not afraid to tell people what i stand for, so i want them to be with me out there trying to teach and educate the population. i have a gorgeous view of the sunrise. it gives me the energy i need every day.

sevillea moved from peru to the united states 30 years ago to pursue her american dream. >> it was hard for me in the beginning so i made a decision, you know, i need to feed my children and i don't care i will work as a housekeeper. >> she went from being a housekeeper to a banker -- >> i am going to park. >> she spotted an opportunity to indicator to latinos. >> hi, doctor. how are you? >> she ran nine clinics and had 130 employees, and the recession led her to shut down clinics and layoff 60 workers. >> it has delivered blow after blow. savings drying up and homes losing value and now a new class of working poor, and families that once enjoyed 6-figure incomes now lose their homes.

>> that's me. if i didn't make the changes i made with the company, we closed five clinics and it was really painful. but we did it, and finally we are almost at three, and we are back to hiring again. >> at the core of cecilia's success, she says her conservative beliefs and values. >> i believe in the american dream and i came to the country to work hard and i don't want government telling me what to do. >> state senator also believes in the american dream. he, too, is fighting for the latino vote, but for the democrats. >> what are your top issue? what are you most concerned about now? economy? jobs? health care? >> the foreclosures in the houses. >> foreclosures? >> yes.

>> today, nevada is suffering through high levels of foreclosures and 12% unemployment with the latino community especially hard hit. a poll shows three quarters of latinos are more concerned about the economy than immigration policy. >> since most of the people work in the casino industry and the tourism industry, if those industries are not making money they lay people off. there's the first line of workers that get laid off when times are hard. so when these people get laid off, they can't pay their bills. when they can't pay their bills, they lose their home. so we have a lot of work to do. >> these are problems plaguing latinos across the country, problems latinos look to the politicians to solve, but is either party really listening? ahead -- >> ruban running for congress. >> his quest to become the first latino running for congress.

like republican brian sandoval, the state's first latino leader. >> i am not the most famous today, the beaches and gulf are open, and many areas are reporting their best tourism seasons in years. and bp's also committed to america. we support nearly 250,000 jobs and invest more here than anywhere else. we're working to fuel america for generations to come. our commitment has never been stronger.

washington, ruben makes a point to meet with key latino congressmen. of the 530 members currently in congress, 28 are latino, eight republicans, 20 democrats. >> you already lieutenant? >> i'm doing well. waiting to meet with congressman basserra. >> reporter: like charlie full participants in the

electoral process. >> reporter: which is what we believe in strong

the largest latino population in the state. >> i need your help. >> reporter: he says electing him to congress would give latinos a vote. >> hi, everybody. >> reporter: and democratic leaders hope ruben's candidacy would bring more latinos out to the polls. but if in the fall above 2011, candidate kihuen found out he has competition in the democratic primary, congresswoman dina titus. titus is an extremely ex-peer yensed and well financed politician.

ruben is young and fresh and culturally connected. >> i might not raises much money as her but i have hundreds of volunteers ready to go knock on doors, those young voters following make phone calls for you. >> to hear about ruben, see his face. >> reporter: more than 60,000 latinos turn 18 across the country and some democratic leaders believe ruben could be the right man to connect to them. debbie rios is the president of the hispanic student union at rancho high school, ruben's alma matter. >> if you go and you have a ruben shirt, please wear it. >> reporter: debbie's passion goes beyond politics it is also personal. her brother and many of her friends are in this country illegally. the dream act could have protected them from deportation. it went down to defeat by the senate in 2010. >> having friends who are so close who had that chance to being able to have some kind of legal status here and then

knowing that it wasn't possible, it was very heartbreaking. [ speaking spanish ] >> reporter: political radio host and registered democrat miguel is disappointed with his party. >> 70% of the latino population went with barack obama to get him elected. with than happens, everybody is fired up, yeah wither going to get dream act, everybody is talking immigration reforms coming in. and then the first 100 days go by and, oh, well, nada. >> reporter: president obama has upset latinos by deporting more undocumented immigrants than any other administration in u.s. history. to debra, by rios and other latinos, part of the solution is more hispanic leaders in washington, d.c., like ruben kihuen. >> i don't have as much money as my opponent.

>> the thing is, you got all the hispanics behind you. >> well, you know, that's what i'm hoping for. >> reporter: ruben's trying to build the momentum and the base he needs to win. even appearing on republican business woman cecilia aldan's show. even though rubin is a democrat, support crosses party lines. [ speaking spanish ] >> he impressed me today. absolutely impressed me today. 43% is hispanics. he should be the one representing that district. >> reporter: it seems ruben has support of his community. >> ruben kihuen, to hi, how are you. >> reporter: and powerful democratic leaders but is it enough to make him nevada's first latino congressman? >> i do feel that is what it is, a new approach.

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you ought to see the faces on the children when they see santa claus. >> reporter: december 2011. a season of giving. and cecilia aldana's favorite time of year. >> okay.

misto. i collected, between the purchase and the donations, 5,500 toys. >> reporter: every year, cecilia helps sponsor a toy and food drive for nevada's neediest. >> this is a reality. this is exactly what happens in las vegas. >> reporter: the unemployment rate for latinos in nevada is is 15.2%. it doubled after the recession of 2008 when the construction industry collapsed. >> what makes me extremely sad is no politician understands what happens every day in our lives. >> reporter: even republican party leaders admit they need to do more. >> i think in a lot of cases, we have some work to do. >> reporter: sean spicer is with the republican national committee. >> i think if you look at that time on paper, we should you can the home for every latino. hands down. no question. unfortunately, i think we haven't always done the best job of reaching out to them and talking to them about it. >> reporter: lack of outreach led latinos to form their own

opinions, based on republicans tough stance on immigration. in fact, a recent cnn/orc poll shows 70% of latinos believe that democrats care more about them. only 24% say republicans care more. what do you think most hispanics in nevada think of the republican party? >> they immediately go and say we don't trust republicans because they are all evil. you know, they are no good people. >> that's what hispanics here say? >> why, sole dad? why do they say that? it's because they hear that on the news every day. and i'm a republican. i'm a conservative republican. i'm out there working hard, making sure i create jobs for more people. >> reporter: cecilia feels she is doing her part but the republican party itself is struggling. [ speaking spanish ] >> why is the economy weak? >> reporter: while nevada's republican party is supporting

ron paul, the national republican party is unifying behind mitt romney. >> we are having a rally for mitt romney. >> reporter: to people like cecilia, it seems there is no clear party direction. no easy way to be involved. until mitt romney comes to town. >> i'm talking to some of the romney people to see what i can do to help them to recruit hispanics. >> reporter: at last, cecilia feels engaged by her party. >> we see record numbers of foreclosures. i don't have to tell you that. we need new leadership in washington. >> it totally inspires me, you know, gives me hope for the future. so i can't wait for him to become president. >> reporter: republican or democrat, nevada's latino community shares the same hope as its future, sending one of their own to congress. for democrats that would be

state senator ruben kihuen. january 24, 2012, washington, d.c. >> you know, i get the chills every time i walk by this building. >> reporter: congressional candidate kihuen has traveled across the country as a guest of his mentor, senator harry reid. he is attending the state of the union address. >> this is maybe a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. god willing, we win this election in june and in november and next year, i will be serving in this body as a member of congress, listening to that speech. >> reporter: while in washington, ruben makes a point to meet with key latino congressmen. of the 530 members currently in congress, 28 are latino, eight republicans, 20 democrats. >> you already lieutenant? >> i'm doing well. waiting to meet with congressman basserra. >> reporter: like charlie gonzalez from the hispanic caulk couple. >> a few more offices.

>> reporter: and congressman becerra from california.aucus. . >> a few more offices. >> reporter: and congressman becerra from california. >> going to be in washington for the state of the union? >> yes, actually august guest of senator reid. >> reporter: with each meeting, ruben's confidence builds. >> he will be here in about a year. >> i'm working hard. >> mr. speaker, the president of the united states. >> reporter: that night the state of the union. what was it like? >> when you're invited to sit there and be among the 600 most powerful people in the world, possibly, you know, including the president of the united states and you get to witness this event in person, it's life-changing. >> reporter: then earthquake the next morning, an important meeting. senator harry reid, ruben's mentor and a king maker in

congress. so, for the folks in washington, d.c., how important was it that you were latino in a district that is latino? >> nevada is a battleground state. it is a purple state. >> they wanted latino inos to vote. they knee no he by having a latino on the general election ballot it would increase their turnout. they had their own vested interest in this. >> it seems to me odd ton of momentum, both in d.c., and their constituents. >> there was a picture that came out on the las vegas sun where senator reid had his arm around me. so a lot of people were saying we know who senator reid is supporting. >> reporter: ruben's trip to washington left him running high but back in nevada, his competitor was beating him in

the polls. there must have been people in your campaign saying, ruben, we're in trouble. [ jack ] after lauren broke up with me, i went to the citi private pass page and decided to be...not boring. that's how i met marilyn... giada... really good. yes! [ jack ] ...and alicia. ♪ this girl is on fire [ male announcer ] use any citi card to get the benefits of private pass. more concerts, more events, more experiences. [ jack ] hey, who's boring now? [ male announcer ] get more access with the citi card. [ crowd cheering, mouse clicks ]

i'm don lemon. here are tonight's headlines.

>> 4, 3, 2, 1 -- and liftoff. >> that right there marking a new era in space flight from cape canaveral florida. nasa has stepped aside to the international space station. and meningitis outbreak has

washington, d.c. is back in las vegas. >> i love you, ruben. >> reporter: continuing his campaign to become nevada's first latino congressman but the polls are telling a different story. must have been people in your campaign crunching those numbers and saying, ruben, we're in trouble. >> we were not focused on what that poll or any of those polls were saying because i was confident by the time election day came around, they knew who ruben kihuen was and what he planned on doing for them. >> reporter: then, on february 7, 2012, just two weeks after ruben's d.c. trip, a surprising turn. kihuen releases this statement and withdraws from the race. >> here at home, state senator ruben kihuen has dropped out of the race.

>> reporter: rancho high school is the home base for ruben's volunteer youth support. both students and teachers struggle with the news. >> it's so shocking because just this saturday, we were out canvassing for him and his campaign manager was there and you know, the field director was there and how could this have happened? >> the only time i think i've been -- i think i sat or maybe effected is when i found out the dream act had not passed. >> reporter: next is the to hear from ruin personally. instead his sister -- >> maryanna kihuen. >> reporter: faces their disappoint. >> it was you guys that really made his campaign last five, six months that it did. >> all the indications was ruben is our candidate, he will go to congress. >> reporter: miguel barrentos, a producer and radio host in las vegas. >> he would have kept the party strong, latinos more on the

democratic ticket but after that, i think it is going to reflect on how people are going to get elect here in southern nevada. >> reporter: a week pass and a once highly visible ruben kihuen has still not made a public appearance. speculation builds about his withdrawal from the race. [ speaking spanish ] >> reporter: until ruben appears on miguel's spanish radio show to face those that believed in him. [ speaking spanish ] >> the reality is some people don't understand it but the reality is we didn't have the money. >> okay, ruben, if the issue is money. >> reporter: miguel doesn't buy it. >> harry reid able to raise $30 million for his senate race, i'm sure with a couple phone calls, he would have raised $1 million for ruben kihuen if he really wanted to help the latino community. >> 'cause i knew once -- >> reporter: regardless of the reasons, ruben struggles with his decision to drop out. >> again, it was tough.

don't get me wrong. >> how tough? >> for me, i couldn't sleep the day before, i wasn't sure if we stay in the race or not. we had the volunteers, we had the people support. we had the community behind my campaign. >> but? >> we had community leaders. >> but? >> but this was going to have a negative impact ultimately for president obama's campaign here in nevada because i know that worse case scenario, had i lost that primary, those voters who were nontraditional voters, who were excited to see my candidacy, were going to be discouraged to go out there and support anyone in the general election. >> reporter: ruben's weight of re-electing president obama on his shoulders around the dreams of his community on his back, he took one for the team. his party, not his people. are some latinos mad that, you know, that the person who has to take one for the team is the young up and coming latino who

can bring out the latino vote which, by the way, is big in this state? but when push came to shove, it's not going to be you this time? >> you know, i'm -- i don't know. i mean, i've heard of a lot of, you know, mixed messages. some people did call me and some were disappointed with the democratic party, should come out and supporting me publicly so concerned about getting latinos out to vote, they should support the latino candidate. >> reporter: senator reid's office says the decision to drop out of the race was kihuen's. from ruben's balcony you can script offers a constant reminder of why he got into the race in the first place. >> if you look at that big green hotel over there, that's where my mom works. and as we speak, that's where she's working. she's a housekeeper at the mgm grand. part of the reason why i was doing this was because of my mom

and because of my father and so when i look out there, i think about my mom that's working right now, her dream of seeing me serving in congress is going to have to be put on hold. but i'm still committed to it as ever. it just didn't happen in 2012. >> reporter: republican cecilia aldana still has high hopes for 2012. inspired after working at the republican caucus supporting front-runner mitt romney, cecilia sets her sites on becoming a delegate to the national convention. is that gonna happen? >> no, it didn't happen. i don't know how exactly that works but i was not one of the names on the list. i don't know what the process is. but my name wasn't there so i guess it broke my heart. >> reporter: with nevada's republican party in disarray, splintered between ron paul and mitt romney supporters, and no clear strategy, cecilia is left with a challenge.

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>> you are a nevada hispanic. >> reporter: this is a big day for debbie rios. today, she is graduating from rancho high school. she will sta college in the fall. >> debbie lorraine leos. >> reporter: something her undocumented older brother could not do. debbie rios is becoming an adult in a school district where the population is booming. nearly 50% of kindergarteners are latino. though latinos are the largest minority group in the country, they are politically underrepresented nationwide. here in nevada, ruben kihuen abandoned his bad bid to become the state's first latino congressman but urges the rancho graduates to keep on fighting. >> we must remember the road to success leads through hard work,

patience, persistence and perseverance. were were are they endwayning latino voters here? >> yes, i am seeing it from the president's campaign and the local canned dats understand the importance of the latino vote and make it to events. you need to invest in latino votes in order to get latinos come out and vote. >> you feel like democrat rinse vesting? >> they are investing. >> regardless of what happened with you? >> yes. yes. >> reporter: many are disappointed with the democrats. after president obama failed to defeat republicans in congress, after the defeat of the 2010 dream act, many latinos resent the lack of support for leaders like ruben. >> i think the leadership is seek the latino vote but the way

we saw it with the ruben kihuen issue is they are not ready to give us the political power. i think it is a missed opportunity for the democrat leadership. >> reporter: five months before the election, president obama independently makes a decision that changes the game. >> effective immediately, the department of homeland security is taking steps to lift the shadow of deportation from these young people. >> reporter: the president's executive decision temporarily allows undocumented young people to stay in the u.s. and apply for a work permit. a strategy that directly targets young voters under 30, like debbie rios. the republicans say it isn't the right solution. mitt romney, now the party's candidate, fires back. >> i believe the status of young people who come here through no fault of their own is an important matter to be considered and should be solved on a long-term basis.

>> reporter: on the ground are the national parties are dialing into the latino community. and both parties come to nevada for the national council's annual conference. >> we saw latinos be a swing vote in 2010 and in 2008 when barack obama was put into office and when harry reid was elected into office. as it turns out, they tipped the scales and i think everyone credits the latino community with having made the difference in those elections. >> reporter: the nclr conference has been a center stage for latino politics. candidates obama and mccain spoke here in 2008, but neither candidate attends in 2012. janet says it is a missed opportunity. >> it's important to tap into that growing power of the latino

community and to encourage as many latinos and hispanics to be full participants in the electal process. >> reporter: which is what cecilia aldana is focusing on. >> we are trying to educate the population on the different options. >> reporter: frustrated by the split in the nevada's republican party, cecilia moves forward on her own. though still a hard-core republican, she decides to join an independent conservative group. >> i became part of nevada hispanic, it was created by one of my greatest friends. we believe in strong immigration. we believe on the family. >> why not work with the republican party? >> i thicke you can achieve more doing what i'm doing. i want to teach you how this country works. >> reporter: the republican party's outveatch slowly taking shape.

with the state party in disaray, the republican national committee and the romney campaign start their own separate outreach. there were many people in nevada who felt it was late by then. do you feel it was late? >> i don't feel it was late. a lot of time, people aren't really plugging in until you get this time of year. >> reporter: but are republicans plug nothing nevada late teen snows latinos the state of nevada is that your focus in the campaign? >> no as i mentioned to you, i've been in ohio, wisconsin this week. >> you told me nevada is could be a critical swing state? >> is, we can do more than one state at the same time. >> reporter: and he will have to, with obama and romney nearly

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the democratic national convention, the party's biggest political pep ral i love the year. front and center is state senator ruben kihuen, one of the party's biggest fans. he dropped out of the highly contested congressional race for district one in nevada. he says he feared his candidacy would divide the democratic party. tonight, ruben represents nevadaz at democratic national committeeman. >> i ran for national committeeman, got elected. this is part of my responsibility to be here but also because i'm one of the main surrogates for the president's

campaign back home. my grandmother didn't begin to her our lives in public service but probably thought it extraordinary. >> reporter: the first time a latino is doing the keynote at the dnc, which surprised in toe some degree. an poernt role sent to late team knows. >> i think his message is the american dream is still alive, we work hard, we sacrifice, still out there similar to my message when i was campaigning for congress. for know witness this is historic. >> journey that brought me here tonight -- >> reporter: with the election a virtual dead heat, they are desperate to connect with the nation's 24 million eligible latino voters. [ speaking spanish ] >> reporter: their pitch. >> there was no limit how far i could go because i was an

american. >> reporter: republican is he is seem ya aldana dreamed of going as a delegate to the convention, it didn't happen, so seles celia shifted efforts away from the republican party and toward an independent conservative group called nevada hispanics. she is now the chairwoman. should the republican party look at you and say that is what we need to win spinks, if we don't get hispanics eventually we are really not going to be competitive? >> what i'm doing every day is -- >> they don't make a note? >> they don't make a note. >> reporter: the party needs to be making note and fast. cecilia al dana is doing her part around believes her independent effort does deliver 5 to 10,000 conservative votes

for mitt romney. >> i spoke to cecilia last week, i met with her. >> reporter: hector barreto helps lead's official latino outreach. >> she has an organization, doing a a lot of grassroots, too. >> reporter: she told me she started doing that on her own when she couldn't get into the campaign. >> that is what leaders do she was a leader. they don't wait for anybody. >> reporter: wouldn't it take more sense take somebody like that a leader that wants to make governor romney win? >> absolutely. i'm sure she will be a big supporter around contributor going forward. >> that is. is that is my point. a big supporter around contributor financially like to see governor romney as president can't figure out how to get in and believes her interpretation is the campaign is disorganize and not focusing on hispanics in nevada, the romney campaign doesn't really care. >> sure. what happens in campaigns also

is campaigns change. you are running a primary campaign you don't low have a lot of resources on the ground, you are the nominee now you have more resource and staff and these things change quickly. >> reporter: this tape from a spring fund-raiser is released, he suspect doing himself any favors. >> the governor of michigan, the head of a car company but he was born in mexico. had he have been born to mexican parent, i would have had a better shop of winning. >> reporter: with the election weeks away, nevada is still up for grabs. los angeles mayor antonio villaraigosa is one of president obama's key campaigners for the late teen knee vote. do you think the state of nevada is is going to pick the next president? >> 24 out of the last 25 elections they have picked the president. as nevada goes, so goes the nation.

but i see a very close election. >> reporter: today there are 51 million latinos in the country, roughly half eligible to vote and their votes are critical to wing the election, but what about their voices? when will their numbers translate into political power? >> i have said this to democrats and republicans alike. we know when latinos see more candidates coming from their community august way of energizing the latino vote. >> reporter: ruben kihuen hopes to be one of those candidates in the future. will you run for office again? >> absolutely. >> reporter: will you be a congressman? >> absolutely. >> reporter: one day? >> one day. yes. >> when? >> i still aspire to be that first congressman from the state of nevada and just going to have to wait a little longer. >> has your american dream changed? >> not at all. i'm living the american dream every day.